Munshi Premchand Biodata

Childhood

Premchand's father 'Ajaib Lal' was a post office clerk. His mother was Anandi Devi of Karauni village, who could have been the inspiration for the character Anandi in his Bade Ghar Ki Beti. Premchand was the fourth child of 'Ajaib Lal and Anandi'. His parents named him 'Dhanpat Rai', while his uncle, Mahabir, a rich landowner, nicknamed him 'Nawab'. 'Nawab Rai' was the first pen name chosen by Premchand. Premchand began his education at a madarsa in Lalpur, located around 2½ km from Lamahi. Premchand learnt Urdu and Persian from a maulvi in the madarsa.

In 1900, Premchand secured a job as an assistant teacher at the Government District School, Bahraich, at a monthly salary of 20. Three months later, he was transferred to the District School in Pratapgarh, where he stayed in an administrator's bungalow and tutored his son.

Early Career

His first short novel was 'Asrar e Ma'abid', which explores corruption among the temple priests and their sexual exploitation of poor women. The novel was published in a series in the Benares-based Urdu weekly Awaz-e-Khalk from 8 October 1903 to February 1905. Premchand stayed in Kanpur for around four years, from May 1905 to June 1909. There he met Daya Narain Nigam, the editor of the magazine Zamana, in which he later published several articles and stories. In 1905, inspired by the nationalist activism, Premchand published an article on the Indian National Congress leader 'Gopal Krishna Gokhale' in Zamana. He criticised Gokhale's methods for achieving political freedom, and instead recommended adoption of more extremist measures adopted by 'Bal Gangadhar Tilak'. Premchand's first published story was 'Duniya Ka Sabse Anmol Ratan', which appeared in Zamana in 1907. According to this story, the most precious 'jewel' was the last drop of blood necessary to attain independence. Many of Premchand's early short stories had patriotic overtones, influenced by the Indian independence movement.

Changing the name Premchand

In 1909, Premchand was transferred to Mahoba, and later posted to Hamirpur as the Sub-deputy Inspector of Schools. Around this time, Soz-e-Watan was noticed by the British Government officials, who banned it as a seditious work. The British collector of the Hamirpur District ordered a raid on Premchand's house, where around five hundred copies of Soz-e-Watan were burnt. Subsequently, Dhanpat Rai had to change his pseudonym from "Nawab Rai" to "Premchand".

Later Career

Premchand wanted to settle in Allahabad, where his sons 'Sripat Rai' and 'Amrit Rai' were studying. He also planned to publish Hans from there. However, owing to his financial situation and ill-health, he had to hand over Hans to the Indian Literary Counsel and move to Benares. Premchand was elected as the first President of the Progressive Writers' Association in Lucknow, in 1936. He died on 8 October 1936, after several days of sickness.

Novels

1903: Asrar-e-Ma'abid (Urdu), Devasthan Rahasya (Hindi)

1907: Prema (Hindi), Hamkhurma-o-Ham Sawab (Urdu), Kishna, Roothi Rani

1909: Soz-e-Watan

1912: Vardaan (Hindi), Jalwa-e-Isar (Urdu)

1922: Premashram (Hindi), Gosha-e-Afiyat (Urdu)

1924: Seva Sadan (Hindi), Bazaar-e-Husn (Urdu), Rangbhoomi (Hindi), Chaugan-e-Hasti (Urdu)

1925: Nirmala

1926: Kaayakalp (Hindi), Parda-i-Majaz (Urdu)

1927: Pratigya (Hindi), Bewa (Urdu)

1928: Gaban (also transliterated as Ghaban)

1932: Karmabhoomi (Hindi), Maidan-e-Amal (Urdu)

1936: Godaan

Short stories

Adeeb Ki Izat

1907: Duniya ka Sabse Anmol Ratan

1910: Bade Bhai Sahab

1915: Beti ka Dhan, Saut

1916: Sajjanata ka dand, Panch Parameshvar

1917: Ishwariya Nyaya, Durga ka Mandir, Updesh

1918: Balidan

1920: Putra Prem

1921: Boodhi Kaki (The Old Aunt)

1923: Pariksha

1924: Shatranj ke khiladi (Hindi), Shatranj ki bazi (Urdu)

1926:Hinsa Parmo Dharma, Ghasvali

1933: Idgah

1934: Nashaa

1936: Kafan

1937: Cricket Match

Gupt Dhan

Mantra

Namak Ka Daroga

1930: Poos ki raat

Lottery

Translations